Romans 8:38-39

These last two verses (vv38-39) list 10 things that cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

8 of them are in pairs. 38 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 "nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ()

Again, our main point, the main point of the whole passage is your security.

God wants His people to experience

deep, & unshakeable

confidence that they are secure in His love.

And the reason he must stress it is because in real life we appear and often feel so insecure. To use the words of verse 36, "As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” ()

This is always true for Christians some place in the world.

And when it is true we can feel very insecure and very separated from God.

And this will be true for you some time in your life—

things will happen

that make you feel that you are separated from the love of God.

That is why this text is here, and that is why I am preaching and why you are here this morning.

Let’s look at the list and strengthen our hearts with God’s powerful and encouraging word.

Keep in mind that these verses are describing the security of “God’s elect” (), not the security of everybody.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, he has chosen you, you are His, you belong to Him.

Verse 28 says that you love Him and are called according to His purpose.

This is His purpose—this everlasting security.

Verse 29 says that you are foreknown, that is,

recognized with favor,

loved before time;

you are predestined to be like Christ, and

you are called from death to life, and

you are justified once for all—

counted righteous in Christ—and

you are glorified.

These promises of inseparability are God’s declaration that he will save His people and nothing can destroy them.

You have these promises if you will have Jesus as your Lord and Savior and Treasure.

So this passage actually begins in v35 with a question. “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?”

The answer to this question is sevenfold.

FIRST: The Plainness of the reply. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” ()

This we saw last week. v37 is also in close relationship to v28.

Once this close connection is grasped,

we begin to understand that what Paul is saying is that not only do these various hardships and forces

(which he mentions) not hurt us,

but they help us: they all work together for good.

It is for this reason that he states that in connection with them we are more than conquerors.

A conqueror is a person who defeats the enemy.

One who is more than a conqueror causes the enemy to become a helper.

If anyone knew the meaning of “more than conquerors” it must have been Paul.

Was it not exactly this apostle who had been “more than conquered” by God?

From a bitter persecutor he had been changed into an enthusiastic supporter!

No wonder he could say, “I am persuaded.” He would be!

From the Plainness of the reply to the Persuasion in the reply. He says in v38, “I am persuaded”.

Can I ask you brothers and sisters, are you persuaded of the love of God?

Not being persuaded that God is love, but that God loves you!

Persuaded, in that the Father would chose us in Christ.

Chosen, not because of anything whatsoever in us

that would commend us to God but chosen in love to be His children.

Think of the love of God the Father, in choosing us.

Think of the love of Jesus, the Son of God, who bowed Himself from His glory,

that He might redeem us from our shame and sin.

The love of the Holy Spirit who made us alive and who comes to dwell in us.

Are you persuaded of His love for you?

v38 says that neither death nor life is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is the first in the list. Why? Two reasons, at least:

Because Paul has just said in verse 36, “We are being put to death all day long.”

And because death separates us from so much of what we know on earth.

It is the most urgent threat.

So immediately Paul says, “Death cannot separate us from God’s love.” In fact, death does just the opposite.

It increases nearness and fellowship with Christ. , "I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—”

Death means “to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” ().

It is not separation; it’s homecoming.

When Christ died he secured his own people in death and in life.

Nothing in life and nothing in death will undo the triumph he achieved in the cross and the resurrection.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

So Paul says in , "Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.”

His lordship over life and death is invincible.

So life and death cannot separate us from the love of God.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

Then in v38 we read of the cosmic supernatural powers. “nor angels nor rulers” then at the end of v38 he mentions “powers”.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

Neither angels nor rulers nor powers will separate us from the love of God.

These three names are probably designations of angelic or demonic beings since “angels” are mentioned first in the group.

So Paul’s point is: there are no cosmic, supernatural powers that can separate us from the love of God.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

These powers were decisively defeated at the cross.

15 "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” ()

When Christ rose from the dead, says that Christ is seated at the right hand of God in the heavens, "far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” ()

So, even though these scoundrels are on the loose, they cannot do ultimate harm to God’s elect.

It must plague Satan so bad to hear God say,

“You and your mighty hordes are helpless to take my loved ones.”

Then the end of verse 38 speaks about nothing in time “nor things present nor things to come” v39 “nor height nor depth”. this is space.

Nothing in time or space can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus!

No. No matter how high you go up or how deep you go down,

you will never find a power that can nullify God’s keeping power.

7 "Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 "If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.” ()

Nothing in highest heaven and nothing in deepest hell can separate us from the love of Christ.

Then, at the end of v39, Paul adds one all inclusive encouragement to make sure he hasn’t missed anything: “nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That covers all that is not God.

No thing and no person in all the universe can separate us from the love of God.

And that includes ourselves.

There are those who say the elect can’t be snatched out of God’s hand () but they can jump out.

In other words, they say, you can be elect, born again, justified, and in the end perish.

That is not what the Bible teaches. “Those whom He justified He glorified” (says the end of v30)

—that is the radical assurance of the elect.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

When we say assurance eternal security, we’re NOT saying that

you can forsake the faith and

live in sin and go to heaven.

The assurance is: God keeps His elect from final apostasy and unbelief.

This is the new covenant. This new covenant promise is for all of God’s people this morning is this: "“I will make a permanent covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from me.” ()

There may be many stumblings and wanderings, but if you are his, you will be brought back. Trust him.

So nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate God’s elect from Him.

The result is massive protection for merciful/ sacrificial service through many sufferings.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

Let me turn to our church context for a moment. FBC of Roselawn.

We often separate ourselves from this building for our ministries to expand.

Do we understand that?

There was a time when our culture was drawn to the attractions of our churches.

The attractional church.

Now people are attracted to relationships. Relating to people.

As missionaries prepare to go anywhere they first study and get to know the culture.

Because their goal is to adapt to that culture so as to begin sowing the gospel into the hearts of that people group.

So let’s us be wise and see, that if we don’t make this adjustment to connect to the people of our day, we’ll lose them.

It’s that simple.

The attractional church days are over.

And it’s adjustments, that makes things so difficult for many of us.

Because that means that we have to GO OUT (which is actually what God has told us to do).

There’s nothing wrong with inviting folks to come to church (DO THAT).

But, many visitor’s have come and gone and have received our hugs and welcomes and most don’t stay!

So this cultural shift is actually good for the church.

Good but hard for some of us.

It’s hard because it means separating yourself from some of your friends that you’re with on Sunday mornings.

Separated from a familiar room,

a particular worship routine that we get used

to an unfamiliar setting of a living room?

The key question is this:

Are we willing to be a little bit like missionaries who leave so much

when they go,

NOT to Lake Village or Schneider,

but to Syria or Brazil.

Oh how I pray that God is working in us

a readiness to venture on Him

—will separate us from the love of God.

for the sake of a simple

but larger vision of His purposes through our Church.

As you separate from the some of the things that make you comfortable

to some of the other living rooms

let me give you four particulars of what you’re NOT separated from:

First and foremost, we are not separated from the love of God in Jesus Christ! Nothing in all creation

—including a moving to different living rooms

—will separate us from the love of God.

Second you will not be separated from the theology of God’s sovereign grace

that runs beneath Roselawn, Demotte, and Schneider, Grant Park,

runs beneath Roselawn, Demotte, and Schneider, Grant Park, like a vein of gold and iron.

like a vein of gold and iron.

Third, you will not be separated from the vision that drives this church—to everyone

worshipping Christ,

seeking and

making disciples

for the glory of God!

You’re not going to be separated from

God-centeredness,

earnest prayer,

biblical fellowship,

personal evangelism.

Fourth, You won’t be separated from your God appointed leadership

that seeks to provide

faithful leadership and

love to this precious body of believers.

You see, building upon the risking it all for the glory of the Kingdom from last week, there is

there is

more important than ever in the life of our congregation,

it’s utterly crucial to mention our Care Groups this morning.

God calls us, while we can, to be in

mutually loving,

mutually caring,

mutually praying

exhorting

admonishing

confessing

encouraging

helping

small groups of believers.

He says in , that, "Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”

My prayer for us, and my pastoral, brotherly exhortation to us is that everyone

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

would be involved a Care Group this year for the

good of your soul and for the

glory of God.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.